Estella Fransbergen, born in South Africa, has been educated in the
Netherlands, South Africa, Italy and America. She has exhibited in
numerous Galleries and Museums in Florida and internationally in
Florence, Italy. The Daytona Museum of Art has one of Estella's art
pieces in their permanent collection.
Estella rapidly grew from
functional pottery after feeling the earth move through her hands as she
was molding clay. This drew her to nature and she now considers herself
a sculptress. "We are so far removed from nature that we are broken ?
not whole anymore. To become whole again, you must listen to your inner
self and return to Nature." Estella was somehow drawn to the female form
and the ancient art of Raku. Her work is born from the earth, the wood
and the fire. She truncates at the shoulders of her sculptures because
"It confuses everybody ? the torso is the soul."
Over time,
Estella has taken her clay Raku ceremony and now creates one of a kind
traditional bronze pieces. She uses traditional patinas with
precious and semi precious stones in her work. Estella has a unique way
of blending the traditional components to create contemporary artistry.
Through
her hands and soul a unique piece has been born. This piece remains
unnamed. The naming is for the soul who resonates with its meaning, who
is drawn by the depths of their heart to how the piece speaks to them.
Finally, the earth has given back to a soul.